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Sara Sharif’s father and stepmother have been found guilty of murdering the 10-year-old before fleeing to Pakistan.

Sara was hooded, tied up, beaten with a cricket bat, burnt with an iron and even bitten in a “brutal” campaign of abuse in the weeks before her death on 8 August last year, the Old Bailey heard.

Her body was found two days later in a bunk bed at her home in Woking, Surrey, after Urfan Sharif, 42, called police from Pakistan, where he had fled with the rest of his family.

Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik.
Pic: Surrey Police
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Urfan Sharif, Beinash Batool and Faisal Malik. Pic: Surrey Police

The minicab driver sobbed during the call as he admitted “I’ve killed my daughter” and said “I beat her up too much” because “she was naughty”, adding: “I legally punished her, and she died.”

Police found a handwritten three-page note tucked under Sara’s pillow in which Sharif had written “Love You Sara” and “I killed my daughter by beating”.

Sara Sharif was found dead in her home. Pics: Surrey Police
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Sharif left a note under Sara’s pillow before fleeing the country. Pics: Surrey Police


“I am running away because I am scared but I promise that I will hand over myself and take punishment,” it said. “I swear to God that my intention was not to kill her but I lost it.”

Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, 30, and his brother, McDonald’s worker Faisal Malik, 29, along with five children, were captured on CCTV at Heathrow Airport, where they boarded a flight to Islamabad the day after Sara’s death.

Re:Beenish Batool with her husband, Urfan Sharif and children
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Sharif and Batool

While in hiding, Sara’s father and stepmother gave a video statement to Sky News in which she described her stepdaughter Sara’s death as an “incident” and said they were “willing to cooperate with the UK authorities and fight our case in court”.

Read more:
The missed opportunities to protect Sara

In footage shown in court Sara Sharif’s family was seen leaving for the airport the day before her body was found.
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Sara Sharif’s body was found in bed at her home. Pic: Surrey Police


Sharif, Batool and Malik were arrested as they returned to Gatwick Airport on 13 September, and all of them pleaded not guilty to her murder and an alternative count of causing or allowing the death of a child.

Sharif and Batool have now been found guilty of Sara’s murder. Batool could be heard sobbing in the dock after the verdicts.

Malik was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The judge, Mr Justice Cavanagh, said he will sentence them on Tuesday next week, telling jurors the case had been “extremely stressful and traumatic”.

Family fled to Pakistan. Pic: Surrey Police/PA
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The family fled to Pakistan. Pic: Surrey Police/PA

Pic: Surrey Police
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The couple were arrested on a flight to Gatwick. Pic: Surrey Police

History of domestic abuse

Sharif had been arrested over allegations made by three different Polish women, including Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, between 2007 and 2010, including domestic violence and making threats to kill, but he was never charged.

Sara was born in 2013, but her parents split in an acrimonious break-up soon afterwards, with accusations of abuse made against each other in a custody battle.

In 2019, the family court eventually awarded custody to Sharif, who had by then divorced Sara’s mother and married Batool.

Neighbours of their small flat described hearing “shockingly loud” sounds of smacking followed by “gut-wrenching screams”.

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What happened to Sara Sharif?

Last year, they moved to a three-bedroom house in Hammond Road, Woking, with Malik and a total of six young children where a new neighbour Judith Lozeron said the family were strangely quiet.

She told Sky News she got the feeling Sara was treated as “a bit of a servant” because she would see her doing chores, such as pegging out the washing and looking after other children.

“That isn’t really what a 10-year-old should be doing,” she said.

“I never saw her smile. I never saw her running, laughing or anything in the garden with the others.”

Prosecutors said Sara started wearing a hijab to hide her injuries, and the court heard she was taken out of school in April 2023 after teachers spotted bruises on her face and referred her to social services – but the case was closed after six days.

Sara Sharif.
Pic: Surrey Police
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Sara, aged four. Pic: Surrey Police

‘Such a special little soul’

A school friend said she saw locks on the bedroom doors when she went round to Sara’s to play.

“She was very happy and outgoing, and she always used to tell me, when she grows up, she likes to go to Los Angeles and be a model,” she told Sky News.

She said Sara told her she had fallen off her bike when she turned up at school with cuts and bruises on her face, adding: “She could have had them on her legs or arms but I couldn’t see them because she had long-sleeved tops on under her T-shirts and leggings under her skirts.”

Sara Sharif during reception year.
Pic: Surrey Police
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Sara ‘loved singing and dancing’. Pic: Surrey Police

Sara’s headteacher Jacquie Chambers said she was a “very caring, very confident little girl” who had the “cutest, biggest smile” and “absolutely loved singing and dancing”.

She said Sara would often talk of her dream of winning The X Factor and the school has now introduced a singing award in her memory.

“She was such a cheerful soul and I think that’s what’s really heartbreaking. She was such a special little soul,” she said.

“I don’t think I have ever felt so much sadness and I say that on behalf of all of the staff and the community. I think the shock was just immense.”

More than 70 injuries

Sara was found to have suffered more than 70 injuries, including “probable human bite marks”, 25 fractures, and bleeding on her brain, and her cause of death was given as “complications arising from multiple injuries and neglect”.

Prosecutors said all of the adults in the house were responsible for Sara’s death because one or two of them couldn’t have carried out the campaign of abuse without the complicity or assistance of others and none of them did anything to help.

Sharif initially claimed all the abuse happened while he was at work, blaming it on his “evil and psycho” wife.

But her barrister Caroline Carberry KC suggested she was “vulnerable” and a victim of “honour-based abuse”, forcing a surprise confession from Sharif in the witness box as he admitted killing his daughter by beating.

Undated handout photo issued by Surrey Police of the family home on Hammond Road in Woking, Surrey, where the body of 10-year-old Sara Sharif was found. Sara had been strangled until a bone in her neck broke up to three months before she died, a court has heard. Jurors previously heard the 10-year-old had suffered more than 70 injuries, shortly before she was found dead in her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10 last year. Issue date: Thursday October 17, 2024.
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The family home in Woking, Surrey. Pic: Surrey Police

Sara Sharif.
Pic: Surrey Police
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Sara wore hijab ‘to hide injuries’. Pic: Surrey Police

‘I take full responsibility’

Sharif told the jury he beat Sara with a cricket bat as she was bound with packing tape, throttled her with his bare hands, hit her over the head with a mobile phone, and even whacked her with a metal pole as she lay dying.

“I can take full responsibility. I accept every single thing,” he said before asking for the murder charge to be put to him again.

But after a break, Sharif insisted he was not guilty of the charge, saying: “I didn’t want to hurt her.”

He also denied inflicting the bites and burns, while Batool and Malik both chose not to give evidence.

Surrey Police said an inquest and a safeguarding review would now examine whether Sara was failed by the police, social services, the courts or the education system in the years and months leading up to her death.

Speaking outside the Old Bailey after the verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Emmerson said the case had “shocked and horrified” people around the world.

He said Sara’s young life was brought to an end by “brutal abuse” and “unspeakable violence” committed by Sharif and Batool, which Malik “did nothing to prevent”.

“The murder of a child is absolutely shocking, but the horrific nature of the abuse Sara suffered during her short life has made this case particularly disturbing,” he said.

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) specialist prosecutor Libby Clark said: “Sara was a happy, outgoing and lively child described as always laughing, who was cruelly abused and murdered by those closest to her.

“None of us can imagine how appalling and brutal Sara’s treatment was in the last few weeks of her short life. The injuries inflicted on her were absolutely horrendous.”

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MP tells Sky News she was attacked online by Tate brothers after Commons contribution

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MP tells Sky News she was attacked online by Tate brothers after Commons contribution

An MP has told Sky News she was attacked online by the Tate brothers after she participated in a debate in the House of Commons about violence against women.

The controversial duo, Andrew and Tristan Tate, are facing charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK – all of which they deny.

But they are still very active online, and according to Sorcha Eastwood, the MP for Lagan Valley, are targeting her.

In a document seen by Sky News, Tristan Tate has highlighted one of the MP’s tweets and writes in private correspondence: “MP, nice target, can we sue her?”

Sorcha Eastwood says at first she thought the replies were from parody accounts and not the Tate brothers.

Her original tweet was about Elon Musk, not the Tate brothers. The MP said Musk’s tweets should be looked at through a counter-extremism lens.

“I was really concerned, I was concerned because to me that is a direct attack for want of a better phrase on me serving my constituents.

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“I couldn’t believe that they decided to pick this random Northern Irish MP. The fact that it wasn’t even about them. This is something I didn’t go looking for.

“I think from my perspective, it’s a very, very sinister attempt to shut down important voices in public life, political discourse.”

It was only when she started noticing an uptick in abuse from other accounts she realised she had encountered some of the brothers’ followers.

“I had rape threats. I had death threats. I had people saying I should be hung from a lamppost. I had people saying I should be chopped into liver. I also had people then who were like we’ll waste 15 minutes raping Sorcha Eastwood.”

Andrew and Tristan Tate
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A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against Sorcha Eastwood

A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against her.

They said: “Ms Eastwood has a distorted view regarding social media if she believes one is required to ‘invite or ask’ people to interact.

“Tristan Tate is entitled to his view in relation to her tweet regarding Elon Musk.”

The self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have both been charged with human trafficking, face allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering in Romania.

There is also a European arrest warrant for them as they are facing separate, unrelated charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK. They deny all charges.

Ms Eastwood now worries for others who don’t have a platform like her and who may not feel like they can speak out.

“If this is what has happened to me I have absolutely no doubt that this has happened to others where they have been attempted to be silenced.”

Keir Starmer has previously commented on the Tate brothers’ case in the Commons saying it is “a live issue”, but adding that “the principle is absolutely clear” in relation to whether the brothers should face justice.

Sorcha Eastwood says she wants to see the government do much more to protect against abuse online.

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Tate brothers deny wrongdoing

“I think ultimately the government has taken the wrong course on this. They need to step up.

“This should be an issue of national security as far as the radicalisation of young people online. It should be an issue in terms of the levels of misinformation, disinformation and the lack of trust that is had in our politics right across the UK and Europe.

“I want the government to help me, help every other person to crack down on this and get serious about it. And the only way they’ll be able to do that, is by hitting these tech companies in the only language which they understand, which is money and via robust legislation.”

A government spokesperson said: “Violence against women and girls is a scourge on our society which is why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes within a decade.

“Tackling illegal abuse both online and offline is central to supporting victims and preventing harm in our communities and we will not hesitate to strengthen laws to deliver this mission.

“Last month, parts of the Online Safety Act came into force meaning companies must take action to protect users from illegal material including extreme sexual violence.

“Further protections from this summer will require platforms to protect children from harmful, misogynistic, and violent content.”

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‘It’s just nasty’: Birmingham residents ‘overwhelmed’ by foul stench and massive rats as bins strike rumbles on

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'It's just nasty': Birmingham residents 'overwhelmed' by foul stench and massive rats as bins strike rumbles on

In parts of Birmingham, the stench is overwhelming – enough to make you heave.

At a block of flats in Highgate, in Birmingham city centre, we find a mountain of bin liners full of rubbish spewing out of the cavernous bin store, which is normally locked.

Mickel comes out to speak to us, while all around bin liners lie open, with the contents for all to see, including used nappies and rotting food.

Birmingham
strike bin workers
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Mickel says they’ve had ‘foxes and rats, literally the size of cats’

Outside Mickel's flat in Highgate, bin liners lie open, spewing out rubbish, including used nappies and rotting food
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Outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate, bin liners lie open, spewing out rubbish

We both find it hard to keep talking amid the awful smell.

“We’ve had foxes and rats, literally the size of cats, flies, it’s just nasty, something needs to be done,” he says.

Birmingham
Birmingham
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Chris says the situation is ‘overwhelming’ as she’s ‘terrified of rats’

Around the corner, I meet Chris, in her dressing gown, popping the bins into her bin store beneath her flat before work.

She unlocks it, and although it isn’t bursting out on to the street yet, it is getting full.

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She says the situation is “overwhelming” as she’s “terrified of rats”. But, even so, she has sympathy for the striking bin workers.

“It’s not an easy job; they must have a heart of gold to do that job,” she says.

“Pay them whatever they need, they deserve it.”

Striking bin workers in Birmingham
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Striking bin workers at Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre

a mountain of bin liners full of rubbish spewing out of the cavernous bin store, which is normally locked.
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There’s an awful smell coming from a mountain of bin liners outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate

At Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre, Brigette has pulled up alongside picketing workers. The back seat of her car is full of rubbish.

She apologises for the terrible waft, mixed with air freshener.

Read more:
Pest controllers ‘feel like an emergency service’
Bin workers strike explained

“It’s very pungent, isn’t it? Not nice,” she admits.

“It’s unfortunate, I have some sympathies for all the parties, but, equally, we have a duty of care to stay clean and tidy.”

She says she has her rubbish and that of her elderly aunt and plans to make weekly trips to the tip until a resolution in this pay dispute between the council and the Unite union is found.

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‘US is our closest ally’, Jonathan Reynolds says in reaction to Trump tariffs – but ‘nothing off the table’

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'US is our closest ally', Jonathan Reynolds says in reaction to Trump tariffs - but 'nothing off the table'

The US is “our closest ally” but “nothing is off the table” in response to Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on imports from the UK, the business secretary has said.

In a statement following the US president’s nearly hour-long address to the world, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers.

“That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.”

Follow the latest following Trump’s tariffs announcement

Mr Reynolds reiterated the statements from the prime minister and his cabinet over the past few days, saying the US is “our closest ally”, and the government’s approach is to “remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today”.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds arrives in Downing Street, London, for a Cabinet meeting. Picture date: Tuesday January 28, 2025.
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Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says “nothing is off the table” following the tariffs announcement. Pic: PA

But he continued: “We have a range of tools at our disposal, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to engage with UK businesses, including on their assessment of the impact of any further steps we take.

“Nobody wants a trade war, and our intention remains to secure a deal. But nothing is off the table, and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.”

More on Donald Trump

‘Get back round the negotiating table’, say Tories

The Conservative Party’s shadow business and trade secretary described the US president’s announcement as “disappointing news which will worry working families across the country”.

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Sky’s Ed Conway examines how economies across the world are impacted by tariffs

Andrew Griffith hit out at the government for having “failed to negotiate with President Trump’s team for too many months after the election, failed to keep our experienced top trade negotiator, and failed to get a deal to avoid the imposition of these tariffs by our closest trading partner”.

“The chancellor’s emergency budget of just a week ago with its inadequate headroom is now at risk, casting uncertainty about more taxes or spending cuts,” he continued. “Sadly, it is British businesses and workers who will pay the price for Labour’s failure.”

He called on ministers to “swallow their pride” and “get back round the negotiating table to agree a fair deal to protect jobs and consumers in both the UK and the US alike”.

Relief in Westminster – but concessions to Trump to come

It has been quite a rollercoaster for the government, where they went from the hope that they could avoid tariffs, that they could get that economic deal, to the realisation that was not going to happen, and then the anticipation of how hard would the UK be hit.

In Westminster tonight, there is actual relief because the UK is going to have a 10% baseline tariff – but that is the least onerous of all the tariffs we saw President Trump announce.

He held up a chart of the worst offenders, and the UK was well at the bottom of that list.

No 10 sources were telling me as President Trump was in the Rose Garden that while no tariffs are good, and it’s not what they want, the fact the UK has tariffs that are lower than others vindicates their approach.

They say it’s important because the difference between a 20% tariff and a 10% tariff is thousands of jobs.

Where to next? No 10 says it will “keep negotiating, keep cool and calm”, and reiterated Sir Keir Starmer’s desire to “negotiate a sustainable trade deal”.

“Of course want to get tariffs lowered. Tomorrow we will continue with that work,” a source added.

Another source said the 10% tariff shows that “the UK is in the friendlies club, as much as that is worth anything”.

Overnight, people will be number-crunching, trying to work out what it means for the UK. There is a 25% tariff on cars which could hit billions in UK exports, in addition to the blanket 10% tariff.

But despite this being lower than many other countries, GDP will take a hit, with forecasts being downgraded probably as we speak.

I think the government’s approach will be to not retaliate and try to speed up that economic deal in the hope that they can lower the tariffs even further.

There will be concessions. For example, the UK could lower the Digital Services Tax, which is imposed on the UK profits of tech giants. Will they loosen regulation on social media companies or agricultural products?

But for now, there is relief the UK has not been hit as hard as many others.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has reacted furiously to Mr Trump’s announcement of a “destructive trade war”, and called on the government to stand up against “Trump’s attempts to divide and rule”.

“The prime minister should bring our Commonwealth and European partners together in a coalition of the willing against Trump’s tariffs, using retaliatory tariffs where necessary and signing new trade deals with each other where possible.”

Speaking on Wednesday evening at a White House event entitled ‘Make America Wealthy Again’, the US president unleashed sweeping tariffs across the globe.

Mr Trump held up a chart detailing the worst offenders – which also showed the new tariffs the US would be imposing.

The UK’s rate of 10% was perhaps a shot across the bow over the 20% VAT rate, though the president’s suggested a 10% tariff imbalance between the two nations. Nonetheless, tariffs of 10% could directly reduce UK GDP by between 0.01% and 0.06%, according to Capital Economics.

A 25% duty on all car imports from around the world is also being imposed from midnight in the US – 5am on Thursday, UK time.

Read more:

World reacts to Trump’s tariff announcement
Tariffs will have consequences for globalisation, the US economy and geopolitics
Trump’s tariffs explained

The UK government had been hoping to negotiate an economic deal with the US in a bid to avoid the tariffs, but to no avail. The government says negotiations will continue.

The Confederation of British Industry said “negotiating stronger trading relationships with all like-minded partners will be foundational to any success”.

The business secretary is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, and we are also expecting to hear from the prime minister.

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